Category: American

Don’t settle for the same old Pabst Blue Ribbons cans at happy hour when you and your friends can drink margaritas at Café Penelope for the same price. This family-owned restaurant with a full bar is a mellow, friendly place for a weekday happy hour with fresh appetizers and drink specials. On Fridays from 4 until 7 pm, margaritas are $1.99 and Miller Genuine Draft bottles are $1. Margaritas are not blended or on the rocks but served straight up in a martini glass with a lime wedge and a salt rim. What a great way to kick off the summer!

Another good pick for happy hour is pizza. Café Penelope has the standard Meat Lovers and Veggie Lovers but also some new flavors such as Cheesesteak, with thin-sliced steak and green pepper and Chili with chili con carne and sour cream. Split the large with your friends for $18 or order the small one for yourself for $10.95. Pizza toppings include eggplant and anchovies and barbecue beef for those who want something different.

The soups at Café Penelope have won several awards and vary daily (vegetarian soups like minestrone are available on Wednesday). Cajun Crab and Corn Chowder and Chicken and Rice are some favorites. You can get a soup and sandwich dinner for $8. The Italian Beef Sandwich is popular here and Italian Eggplant with marinara and cheese is a good hot vegetarian sandwich. My Crabcake Remoulade sandwich combined spicy yellow sauce with a tender crabcake flecked with red pepper on a poppyseed roll, plus roasted red potatoes and fresh coleslaw. The many big fresh salads include spinach gorgonzola and Greek, with grilled and salmon options. Most of the sandwich soup and salad combos are under $10.

If you want to treat your female friends, make reservations for the Monday Martini and Manicure Night. For $20 a person, you and your friends can enjoy a manicure and one of the specialty martinis like Lemon Blueberry, Caramel Apple, or Chocolate.

If your friends like to meet for brunch, Café Penelope serves a great one, which won an Independent Restaurant Award in 2007. Some unique brunch dishes are the chai latte French toast with caramelized apples, honey, and house-made bread stuffed with ricotta cheese. The Eggs Benedict choices include the traditional ham, crab cakes or Caprese with pesto, mozzarella and tomatoes crowning the poached egg and English muffin. Buttermilk pancakes with strawberries or blueberries or your choice of omelets make a great start to your day. Remember that on weekends, Café Penelope is only open until 3, but you can enjoy dinner and drinks there on weeknights. If you need to order food for an event at work, check out their catering site.

Honky Tonk Barbecue is a delicious, no-frills barbecue joint, which upgraded from a portable smoker and catering service. I would recommend it for a date because of its excellent food, relaxed atmosphere and frequent live music.

Don’t be put off by the plain metal doorway at 18th and Racine, the interior is bright and comfy with light wood tables, swinging shutter doors and local art on the walls. Two types of barbecue sauce - smoky and sweet - bring out the best in the beef brisket and pulled pork. My favorite meal here is the half chicken (whole ones are also available) fresh - never frozen - and succulent. All chicken here is free-range; owner Willie Wagner prides himself on natural meat and Memphis-style barbecue. Free-range doesn’t mean high-priced here; most menu items are under ten dollars with your choice of two side dishes.

The side dishes include baked beans, coleslaw, corn on the cob and Mexican style cornbread with a few kernels baked in. The salad of jicama, walnuts and mixed greens calls itself “What Your Girlfriend Wants.” If you and your date like beer with your barbecue, you’re in luck; Honky Tonk is BYOB. Some regulars were sharing a bottle of wine when I visited, but the two dining rooms weren’t overcrowded or too loud. The restaurant seats 60. Menu items, such as salads and sides sometimes rotate and all are house-made. The applewood-smoked pork spare ribs never disappoint. Bratwurst, hamburgers and cheeseburgers and pulled pork and brisket sandwiches arrive on fresh rolls with your choice of sauces.

Local country, blues and jazz bands play here a few nights a week. Every Friday night you can hear the Northside Southpaws, John Hasbrouck and Matt Gandurski, a left-handed duo playing “archaic country and obsolete ragtime” on a steel guitar and mandolin. Their mellow waltzes and fun folk songs mix well with the delicious old-fashioned meals. A row of old theater seats provides extra spots for watching shows.

If you or your date live near Honky Tonk, call for delivery. Catering remains available for special events. No matter how many take-out and delivery orders people call for, servers are smiling and friendly.

Beer and fried chicken, anyone? If this sounds like your cup of tea, you’re going to want to check out Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. The one I visited was located on Racine, right off 290, in the West Loop. A huge blue sign stands tall and calls out to your inner drunkard.

I have a friend who just happens to live a hop, skip and a jump away from this joint, so one Saturday night we headed there for a few drinks, planning to catch a nice buzz and then head somewhere else. But truth be told, we never left.

When you walk in, the place is split into two parts. There’s a quaint, cutely decorated dining area where you could ideally take your aunt Judy to lunch. Then, there’s the bar, a dimly lit, cozy, sexy area that is warmed up by a rustic (fake) fireplace. It sort of gives off the feeling of a secluded pub.

Me and my friend got a table. We weren’t surrounded by many people, although the night was still young. I ordered my favorite: a gin and grapefruit. My friend had beer.

I was surprised when the drinks arrived. My gin and juice came in a huge glass, as big as the mug of beer my friend got! I guess I was expecting to get shafted as usual. When I took a sip and the liquor proportion wasn’t to my liking, the super-cool waitress snuck behind the bar and dumped a whole crap-load more gin in my glass. Kick-awesome!

Needless to say, three more of these babies and I was pretty toasty. The conversation got lively. We ordered food. Me: a giant salad full of fresh, juicy chunks of cucumber and tomatoes. My friend: a huge, sloppy, greasy burger overflowing with cheese. I like salads and all, but I was mesmerized by this burger.

At some point, I think I fell out of my chair. But the waitress was still super great about everything! That’s what makes Stanley’s special. The staff really takes the time to get it just right.

And just at the point when I thought I was gonna be sick, the heroic waitress came by with a magical concoction of mashed potatoes and gravy and literally saved my life! There’s nothing like some carbs to bring you back to sobriety!

I hear Stanley’s has a great Sunday brunch, but I don’t know. We didn’t wake up the next day till it was already afternoon.

Just because you didn’t get paid this week, don’t think you can’t afford to take someone out on a date. You may have to venture outside the confines of the city, but it’s definitely possible. Just hop on the blue line and take it to the very last stop: Forest Park. It’s here that you can find a few destinations that are not only fabulously romantic, they’re cheap, too.

The other day I met up with my date and we headed over to Todd and Holland Tea Merchants, a one-of-a-kind store located in Forest Park’s famed Madison Street area. I’d been in there once before, and the aroma walking in was enough for me to fall in love. Every kind of tea imaginable can be found here, as well as lesser known flavors that will have you longing for more. Right away, the store’s owner approached and offered us a tea sample. Poured into a small glass, this “Waikiki Beach” Japanese green tea was a unique take on an old favorite. Even without adding sugar, the tea had a sweet taste and an even sweeter aroma, thanks to a bit of pineapple. This lightly flavored delight really did conjure up images of breakfast with fresh fruit on a far-off Hawaiian beach.

My date and I slipped into a calming, tea-induced trance. The owner invited us to open small sample jars of tea and smell them, giving us a better idea of the flavors behind the clever names. Quietly, we perused the spotless, carefully arranged shelves full of high-end merchandise and both wished we had brought our credit cards. But the experience that the store provides (which is free) left us both feeling relaxed and comfortable, and ready for a good meal.

Across the street and down a little ways was our next destination: a charming, lesser-known pub-style restaurant called Skrine Chops. I’d passed this place before and took a look at their menu. Shockingly, this place features a pork chop dinner for $8.00! That in itself caught my eye, and on this night, I was determined to find out what it was all about.

Stepping in, it’s hard to tell if the restaurant’s name fits the atmosphere. With tarnished wood tables, stuffed remnants of hunted deer and other animals, and a miniature train set that runs the entire length of the restaurant, it definitely shouts “rustic cabin,” not-so-much “chophouse.” Right away a waiter came by and gave us menus—consisting of only a page—and in only a few minutes we had chosen from this modest list.

My date and I sipped frothy beers in big mugs and watched families and couples wander in. The crowd was boisterous and cheery, and we didn’t feel we had to speak softly. Minutes later, two hot plates arrived: mine with a sizzling pork chop and a huge helping of mashed potatoes and my date’s oversized grilled chicken sandwich dripping with barbecue sauce. This sandwich has a twist: the mashed potatoes are spread on top of the meat! It seems strange, but it tastes great.

My chop was tender and juicy and everything you’d want from an indulgent chunk of meat. The mashed potatoes were creamy, hot and irresistible. Tangy barbecue sauce finished off the combination perfectly, and before I knew it, I was full.

When the bill came, I wasn’t worried. Even with both of our meals and both of our drinks, the tab was only $25! And I honestly felt that my meal alone would have cost $25 in any other establishment. In no hurry, my date and I sipped the last of our beers and took advantage of the cozy atmosphere.

It’s nice to have money, but don’t let a lack of it hold you back. There’s lots to do in both the suburbs and the city that are fun and romantic and won’t leave you broke. Check out Skrine Chops next time you’re hurting for cash.

As too many Wicker Park restaurants rise out of my price range, and Starbucks replaces Filter, the Earwax Cafe remains refreshingly the same. Don’t be disgusted by the name, which came from the record store in the same location on Milwaukee Avenue, near the North/Milwaukee/Division intersection in the heart of Wicker Park. The café is now a delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee spot. The Earwax Café makes a perfect place to relax with friends before a show at the Subterranean or after hunting for second-hand treasure at Myopic Books or Reckless Records.

Groups of friends can sit in one of the high-backed gold and red booths by the old circus posters of Ostrich Boy and the knife thrower and the golden horned dragon head on the wall. You can talk for hours over the bottomless coffee ($3.75) and eat breakfast at any time of day. Vegetarian or vegan friends can dine well on the meatless burgers made from soy, or black beans, tempeh (soy, barley and spices) and even a seitan chorizo burrito. I was impressed by the Reuben with seitan (wheat gluten) seasoned exactly like corned beef. I would recommend the chocolate soy shake with ribbons of chocolate syrup to anyone. Carnivores can go straight for the pulled pork sandwich ($7.50) or Jamaican Jerk chicken ($8.95) with mashed sweet potatoes and rice. Crunchy, gingery sesame coleslaw and seasoned thin French fries make excellent sides and the vegan carrot cake lets you claim that your dessert is socially responsible. Get all your daily servings of produce at once in the Garbage Salad ($8.95) with romaine, spinach, carrot, bell peppers, mandarin oranges, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and honey mustard dressing.

There’s no wine or beer here, but a good selection of espresso coffee drinks and loose leaf teas like oo long, sassafras and medicinal teas to fight off a cold. The Blue Velvet berry smoothie and Peanut Butter Chocolate smoothie are fun and filling. If your friends need a good meal before or after hitting the nearby bars, Earwax Café is ready for you.

Be warned, Earwax Café is cash only. The flyers for local art and music shows covering the wall and the litany of graffiti in the bathroom keep it real. This is the type of humble punk art place that made Wicker Park cool to begin with. Look for videos to rent and independent magazines in the back and downstairs.

Boy, I sure do love to check out brand new establishments, and this one is just within ear shot of my home, so that made me extra happy. The menu is a nice addition to the other restaurants nearby, Americana with pizazz, and they are already getting a lot of regulars, so there holds a lot of promise here. I would say though that they have a few kinks to work out, but I'll save the complaints for later. For now, let's just dive in to all the good they have to offer.

The first thing you'll notice is how this place looks an awful lot like an upscale hunting lodge, especially with that antler chandelier! It doesn't quite match the exterior, and I found it to be a little creepy yet alluring at the same time. The overall warm, cozy and inviting, modern vibe does it for me, and with it being pretty chilly out there right now, I can definitely take that. It would be nice to see a fire place in there to add to its overall woody charm, but I digress. The volume level is good too, making it a good place to relax with that special someone.

Now onto the food! There seem to be quite a good number of selections to go by, but since the place is so new, I am not a judge of all of them. I liked the endless flat bread, though a dipping sauce of sorts would have done it a bit more justice. The gouda macaroni and cheese is warm, creamy and has just a nice bit of crunch to it, chalking it up a few notches past what I can whip up at home. The vegetable pot pie is very comforting, and I liked that they include sweet potatoes as a new twist. And the fish and chips was a pleasant surprise, as it's very fresh. Others rave about their Rustik burger, which is a patty stuffed with gouda, bacon and chorizo (interesting!), though the tiny fries I could live without. And others still swear by the bef burgundy stew. Oh and go with the German butter cake for dessert... heavenly!

Now it's no secret this place is brand spanking new, but I do need to mention the slow, spotty and overall unsure service so far, which is again probably because they are new, too. The other thing is Wow! That front area is mighty chilly! Getting a vestibule set up might not be such a bad idea! So, if you stop by, be sure to request a table further back.

So here I am raving about a hot dog joint again, at least that's what you might be thinking. Stop rolling your eyes! Let me assure you – this is no ordinary hot dog joint! As their moniker states, this place is “The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium” and they mean every word of it! The lines wrapping around this otherwise unassuming place in a pretty unremarkable and under developed area are reminiscent of a Russian bread line. People patiently wait up to an hour in all types of weather, just to get a sampling of some of the best sausages in the city – possibly the world! The first time I drove by, I thought the line was for the ticket broker next door, as there was no way possible people would be out in -30F wind chill waiting to buy a hot dog!

Sure, beef wieners are good and all, but Doug doesn't stop there, as items like elk, duck, lamb, pork, reindeer, chicken, shrimp, rabbit, and yes, even that major no no of an item, fois gras, make appearances on the weekly specials. Basically, if it's not on the endangered species list, Doug turns it into sausage and hocks it off to the hungry masses, huddling together for warmth and that badge of lunch time honor. The fries themselves are just as remarkable, as they are hand cut and fried in duck fat – certainly not good for you, but it sure does add a bit of flavor no other place offers. Even the occasional vegetarian will break their oath of avoiding such places, since they do offer creative veggie dogs... and some break their diets altogether, since the food is just that darned good!

After the wait that can seem like forever, the folks who opt to eat inside are well rewarded as the place operates like a well oiled machine. There is hardly ever a wait for a table, the place is brightly lit and charmingly decorated, and the music is fun and casual. All the pretension normally accompanied with game meats goes right out the door, just as fast as the rotation of hungry and loyal patrons.

And now for the down sides – and yes, Doug's has them. This place does not take credit cards and has no ATM. With the nearest ATM being at least three blocks away and the average cost being $9, there are folks who have been sent away after waiting for gawd knows how long! Also, parking can be an issue, if you are the type who likes to be right out in front. Plan on walking and then getting in line. And yes, finally, most everyone's major beef is the crazy hours this guy keeps! Be sure to find out if he plans on being open or not by calling ahead before heading out.

Back in the 50's, this fire station closed up shop and moved to brighter pastures. Now a restaurant resides in this historic structure, serving up some decent pub grub and keeping things hopping.

I recently had the pleasure of checking this place out, which was somewhat reminiscent of viewing a museum in a party atmosphere, thanks to the full fire fighting regalia. First impressions would think this is just some campy strip mall establishment, but upon closer scrutiny, the stuff on the walls are all genuine, with every item displayed with purpose. And no, blessedly, the wait staff were not wearing flair! I have always had a lot of respect for these guys, and to have such an overall fairly pleasant experience was worth the visit. I really wanted to slide down the original brass poles in the center of the main dining section, or at least slam a few to swing around on them!

The bar service is pretty good, where we hung out while my party and I waited for a table, and the hostess seems to do a fine job of getting people seated, even though she certainly has her job cut out for her. The wait staff were certainly in a dizzying buzz, but not too frantic, thanks to a good busing staff puling back up duty. The place seems very upbeat, where large groups of friends can gather and chatter without worrying they're causing a scene.

The food itself was fair, but nothing to write home about, though they make a very earnest attempt of offering plenty of vegetarian selections. The chili is okay, which my personal standards are pretty high, so they make up for it by offering “The Wall of Fire”, where guests are asked to go up to it, located next to the bar, grab up as many bottles of underground heat as they like and bring it back to the table with them. I liked this notion a lot, and it introduced me to a few new concoctions! And I'm a girl who likes her food HOT!

Since some people bring the kiddos along, this place is best to hit after 8pm to avoid banging their knees into aisle blocking strollers. There is also seating upstairs, where the fire fighters used to sleep, though that is mainly used for banquets. It's a pretty cool place to check out, with area parking being pretty fair. There's free pool on Mondays and is also a good place to catch the game as well.

If you are looking for real Southern style cooking in Chicago, this is definitely the numero uno place to go! There are just so much right with this place that it is really hard to be biased, even though I’ve yet to encounter any restaurant being perfect. The food is so right on and completely awesome, the portions plentiful, the atmosphere fun and kitschy, it’s BYOB (with no corkage!) and even street parking is a relative non issue! Don’t let the trendy sounding name fool you - Feed is da shiznit!

If you’ve never ventured out this way, you might miss the place. The yellow bar style sign with the silhouette of a chicken will lead you right to it! Inside, there’s a 45 spinning juke box, a plastic egg crane game and lots and lots of chicken stuff all over the walls! Every walk of life goes here, and the steady stream of customers is clue one this place lives up to the word of mouth. Also, since it’s location is right around the corner from a large band practice building, the crowd inside can be even more eclectic than the neighborhood itself, which seems to add onto the atmosphere.

The menu is ever changing, based by what’s on special and what the run out of, all up on chalk boards for all to see. “Prince Spaghetti Night” on Wednesdays makes me laugh! Favorites every patron needs to try include the rotisserie chicken, the pulled pork sandwich, slathered with sauce and served on a hamburger bun, and oh my yes - the corn pudding! The banana pudding, served in a Styrofoam cup, is the best around, and the fried okra is probably the closest you’ll ever come to what Maw Maw can whip up. Even the chicken soup is incredible! Who knew? Vegetarians can even go here, as they offer a 5 side deal to choose from.

Now some people may take issue with the communal seating, especially when the place gets hopping and folks are getting elbow to elbow. The big table in back seats 16, so be prepared to scoot yer rump over if your party is anything less that that. Also, the wait staff is pretty friendly, but can occasionally be a little spotty (nothing’s perfect, like I said). Also, I like my mac and cheese to have a little more oomph, but to be honest, it’s really just two ingredients, so not much can be done with it anyway. Also, make sure you bring cash - if you forget, the bar next door has an ATM.

Whether folks need a place to mull over what they did the night before over pancakes and coffee or a quick bite of good old American fare, The Hollywood Grill is the place hipsters and locals hit anytime of the year, day or night. This vintage 50's roadside diner is decked out in pink and teal vinyl, with the walls nearly covered with classic black and white glossies of popular celebrities like Marilyn and Humphrey. is located just up the street from all the hottest bars and night clubs in the Bucktown / Wicker Park scene.

No matter what time it is, and no matter how crowded the after hours people make it, some way, some how, everyone gets seated relatively quick. And no matter what size the group is, the food comes out just as fast as it was ordered - the cooks must be clairvoyant! Also, the wait staff must have been sent there by God Himself, because they are so saintly when it comes to handling the after hours people. Quick, prompt, polite and able to tackle any attitude with none of their own. These are lifers and not the Trixie twenty somethings that always screw up the orders. Big thumbs up for the service alone!

Stick with the breakfast specials like the 2222 or the pancakes or omelets, which have just enough carbs and grease to coat any ornery tummy. The coffee is average diner blend but always fresh and hot. Burgers are decent, and they side them with crinkle cut fries! Just be sure to steer away from the Mexican stuff and anything that sounds out of place. Not good.

Of course, since its location is perfect for the party goers, Hollywood makes that pending hangover worth it with all the people watching that comes with the territory. Sure the place is a bit on the load side and perhaps a little too bright, but it's just so much fun to check out everyone there! It's definitely a place to be seen at 3am!

You know what they say: if a place is always busy, there's got to be a reason for it. Just remember they only take cash, and be sure to tip your waitress. She earned it.